Common moviegoers who typically do not understand the process of sound or film editing constantly overlook the mechanics of a film. Many barely understand the duties of a director. Though not as well known, films would not be the same without excellent technicians in these fields. Here is my review of some select 2014 Oscar nominees for technical aspects.

Best Picture: “Birdman,” “Boyhood,” “American Sniper,” “The Imitation Game,” “Selma,” “The Theory of Everything,” “Whiplash,” “The Grand Budapest Hotel”

Best Picture is continually an area of controversy for the awards, as the academy often snubs certain films. While most of 2014’s premier movies made the list, David Fincher has once again been overlooked. Replacing his newest psychological thriller “Gone Girl,” is Clint Eastwood’s “American Sniper.” While not a complete failure of a film, it does not compare to “Gone Girl,” or even any of the other nominees.

Directing: Alejandro G.Inarritu for “Birdman,” Richard Linklater for “Boyhood,” Bennett Miller for “Foxcatcher,” Wes Anderson for “The Grand Budapest Hotel,” Morten Tyldum for “The Imitation Game”

The directing category has been caught in controversy for excluding “Selma.” While the movie was looked over in many areas, the directing in particular points out a possible flaw with the nomination system. Critics and entertainers have complained the academy is made up of “old white guys,” accusing it of white washing and nominating only Caucasian entertainers. Aside from “Selma” being snubbed, the group is solid.

Animated Feature Film: “Big Hero 6,” “The Boxtrolls,” “How to Train a Dragon 2,” “Song of the Sea,” “The Tale of the Princess Kaguya”

Trends were a big part of 2014. If you look at the year’s film list, superheroes and remakes were just some in fashion. The trend for Oscar nominations was snubbing quality movies. “The Lego Movie” being left out of this category is a travesty. The film was not only the most unique animated picture of the year, but possibly the most creative in the last ten years. It rivaled all of the recent great Disney Pixar movies. “Big Hero 6,” and “ The Boxtrolls,” are minor league players in comparison to “The Lego Movie.”

Original Song: “Everything is Awesome,” by Shawn Patterson of “The Lego Movie,” “Glory,” by John Stephens and Lonnie Lynn of “Selma,” “Grateful,” by Diane Warren of “Beyond the Light,” “I’m Not Gonna Miss You,” by Glen Campbell and Julian Raymond of “Glen Campbell… I’ll Be Me,” “Lost Stars,” by Gregg Alexander and Danielle Brisebois of “Begin Again”

Original Song is a tricky category. Sometimes the nominees all bring their own amazing qualities and the winner is up in the air. And at other times, the winner is obvious. So obvious the academy only puts one other song against it, “Man or Muppet,” from the “Muppet Movie” only went up against one song in 2011. The 87th Oscars is right in between. “Everything is Awesome,” seems like the clear winner, its popularity taking everyone by surprise. Yet, how can someone deny a song like “Glory,” which completely encapsulates such an important era?

Original Screenplay: “Birdman” written by Alejandro G. Iñárritu, Nicolás Giacobone, Alexander Dinelaris, Jr. and Armando Bo, “Boyhood” written by Richard Linklater, “Foxcatcher” written by E. Max Frye and Dan Futterman, “The Grand Budapest Hotel” written by Wes Anderson, “Nightcrawler” written by Dan Gilroy

Original Screenplay has a specific connotation; a common opinion says when a movie wins, either for original or adapted screenplay, it is the true best movie of the year. With a lineup so strong, it is hard to argue. It seems the academy chose all the most creative films from the Best Picture nominees and added the missing unique movies, two of which being “Foxcatcher” and “Nightcrawler.” Both have good chances of winning Original Screenplay.

Visual Effects: “Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” visual effects by Dan DeLeeuw, Russell Earl, Bryan Grill and Dan Sudick ; “Dawn of the Planet Apes,” visual effects by Joe Letteri, Dan Lemmon, Daniel Barrett and Erik Winquist; “Guardians of the Galaxy,” visual effects by Stephane Ceretti, Nicolas Aithadi, Jonathan Fawkner and Paul Corbould; “Interstellar,” visual effects by Paul Franklin, Andrew Lockley, Ian Hunter and Scott Fisher; “X-Men: Days of Future Past,” visual effects by Richard Stammers, Lou Pecora, Tim Crosbie and Cameron Waldbauer

In an age of mind-blowing computer technicians working in film, how can one pick a winner for best visual effects? All of these movies are visually stunning. While none are what purists would consider Oscar worthy, all of them are favorites among critics and fans alike. “Guardians of the Galaxy” in particular is impressive for having two main characters be completely motion capture. “Interstellar” also managed to portray space in a bold new way in a day and age where space has been overdone.

On first glance, the list for 2014’s Oscar nominees is a failure. While each year has its significant exclusions, very few years have had snubs of this magnitude. At the same time, a lot of impressive films were nominated. It was a solid representation of the year in film. A lot of substandard pictures were released, but uniqueness was the name of the game for the unconventional film scene.